Multiple spindle lathe



C. E. MILLER El AL May 24, 1949.

MULT IPLE S P INDLE LATHE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1943 May 24, 1949.

C. E- MILLER ET AL MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1943 & Z Q M m W o 3 Q @WM QU m\\ e e f Hm a .0 U Q May 24, 1949 c. E. MILLER ET AL MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE 6 Sheets-Sheet '3 Filed May 6, 1945 May 24, 1949. c. E. MILLER El AL MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 6, 1943 f &

KWmZMT 1 firz Mi /1dr W MMMB C. E. MILLER El AL May 24,1949.

MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 6. 1945 y 1949- c. E. MILLE R ET AL 2,471,074

' MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE Filed May 6, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 24, 1949 MULTIPLE SPINDLE LATHE Carroll E. Miller and John M. Ingalls, Windsor,

Vt., assignors to Cone Automatic Machine Company Inc., Windsor, Vt., a corporation of Vermont Application May 6, 1943, Serial No. 485,804

6 Claims.

This invention relates to lathes, and while in some respects not limited thereto, it has been developed with especial reference to lathes having a plurality of work carrying spindles.

One object of this invention is to improve the construction, mounting and control of tool carriers for tools which operate on work projecting from the several work spindles.

By reason of this invention each tool or set of tools operative at each station may be carried on its or their own tool slide and be moved and controlled independently of each of the others.

Each tool slide is also provided with a micrometer adjustment with respect to its moving means so that high accuracy of control may be insured.

The moving mechanism may also include cam devices whichcan be readily removed or replaced by others and with minimum wear on the parts which carry these devices. 7

The tool carriers may be cylindrical, if desired, which makes for easy and accurate machining, suitable means being provided for angular and wear adjustment.

A further object is to improve the stock stop mechanism.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a multiple spindle lathe of the well known cone type showing one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine partly shown in Figure 1, this view being partly broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical section on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a tool feed cam and a portion of its mounting.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the cam follower rocker arm.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on line tt of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail'sectional view on line 1-? of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on line 8-8 of Figure 9.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail sectional views on lines 99 and Hl-IIJ, respectively, of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view through an adjusting mechanism also shown in Figure 7.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing a modified construction.

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view on line i3l3 of Figure 12.

Referring firstto the construction shown in Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, the machine as shown is of the well known cone type. It includes a cylindrical indexing work spindle carrier I mounted to index about its central axis 2. This carrier is provided with a plurality of rotary work carrying spindles 3 arranged in circular array about the indexing axis and parallel thereto.

Each of the spindles is rotated, such rotation being produced by rotation of a shaft 5 arranged coaxial with the spindle carrier and in driving relation to the various spindles through a gear 6 fixed to the shaft 5 and meshing with gears 1 carried by the spindles, as is shown best in Figure 3. The shaft 5 extends through a sleeve l0 and projects into an end column I I of the machine wherein is provided the driving mechanism by which the shaft 5 may be rotated, and which also drives in time therewith an overhead cam shaft [5 arranged parallel to the shaft 5. To the cam shaft l5 are fixed cam carrying drums for effecting various controls of the machine as is well known in the art. As shown, also, the sleeve It) supports a tool carrying slide l6 secured to a carriage ll slidably mounted beneath the cam shaft 15 and connected to be moved along the sleeve I8 as by cams l8 and [9 on one of the cam drums carried by the cam shaft [5.

The stock carried by the spindles is arranged to project from one end of each and from the corresponding face of the spindle carrier in a direction toward the column H, and on opposite sides of these stock extensions are positioned front and back frame members 20 and 2 l. Through each of these frame members 20 and 2| are arranged cylindrical bores within which are slidably mounted a plurality of cylindrical tool carriers or supports 22. As shown best in Figures 6, as arranged for an eight-spindle machine, three of these tool supports are carried by the front frame member 23, while four of such tool supports are carried by the back frame member 2|. In the front frame member 20, two of these supports are arranged substantially parallel to each other and the tools 25 carried thereby are arranged to work on stock extending through the two front spindles in each indexed position of the spindle carrier, while the lower tool support 22 is arranged upwardly and inwardly inclined so that its tool 25 is moved upwardly and inwardly toward the forward lowermost spindle axis.

The two intermediate slides or supports 22 carried by the back frame member 2| position their tools for operation on stock projecting from the two rear intermediate spindles, while the lower support is upwardly and inwardly inclined s0 that its tool may operate on work projecting from the lower rear spindle, and the uppermost tool support is mounted in a downwardly and a forwardly inclined position for its tool to operate on stock projecting from the top rear spindle.

The forward top spindle which is at the position where the machine stockfiis cut-off and the stock is then fed forwardly within the spindle to start a new cycle of operations, has positioned to operate on the completed work a cutting-off tool 26, and a projectable and retractible stock stop 21 is arranged to limit the forward feed of the stock for the next cycle of machining operations.

The cutting-off tool 26 is shown as carried by an inwardly and downwardly inclined slide 28 arranged in a corresponding inclined guideway 29 of the front frame member 20, and this slide 28 may be moved to present the cutting-off tool 26 to the stock and then retract it by the rocking of a three-arm rocker 3U. This rocker is journaled on a stub shaft 3|, andits two rearwardly extending arms have cam follower rolls 32 and 33 thereon which are actuated by cams 34 carried by the cam shaft l5. The forward arm 35 is connected as through a link 36 pivoted thereto at one end and to the slide 28 at the other, so that as the rocker 30 is rocked by the cam 34, the slide 28, and with it the cutting-off tool 26, is'moved from and toward the axis of the work projecting from the forward upper spindle, in the proper timed relationship.

The stock stop 21 is-adjustably secured to the lower and inner end of a slide'bar 40, mounted for axial motion in a guide member 4| which is arranged in a downward and inward inclination toward the front face of the spindle carrier, so that when the slide 40 is 'in itslowermost posi tion, the stock stop 21 is positioned in substantially axial alinement-with the top=forward spindle. When it is so positioned and after the machine stock has been cut off by the cutting-off tool 26, which has been retracted, the stock or work is fed forward through the spindle in the well known manner until it strikes the stock stop. The stock stop is then retracted, its motion laterally away from the end of the stock being accompanied by an axial motion away therefrom so that it easily frees itself from the stock end, having a component of releasing motion longitudinally of the stock as well as laterally away therefrom. The stock stop is giventhis motion by the rocking of a shaft'45, mounted beneath the upper frame member 46, which supports through suitable bearingstheoverhead cam shaft l5. This rock shaft '45 is provided with a long gear portion 41, the teethof which mesh in'rack teeth 48 in the slide 40 as shown in Figure 6, these rack teeth being arranged diagonally with respect to the slide 40, as is shown best in Figure 2.

The rock shaft is actuated by a cam 450 carried by the cam shaft -15 and controlling a follower 49 on an arm 490 connected through a link 49| with a rock arm 492 secured to the rock shaft 45.

Front and back tool slide mounting and control As shown best in Figures 1, 2, 9 and 10, the tool carriers 22 are formed cylindrical, and are mounted for axial motion in correspondingly shaped ways in the side frames 20 and 2|. Means are provided by which wear between the carriers and their ways may be :taken up, and this is shown best in Figures 7 and 10. Referring to these figures, the frame member, opposite to each of the ways, is provided with a slot 50,

arranged longitudinally of the adjacent tool supports, and extending substantially radially with reference thereto. Within each of these slots 50 there is positioned a key 5| having an enlarged head 52. The key 5| is of slightly less width than that of the slot 50, and means such as adjusting screws 53 threaded through openings in the frame members, may be engaged at their inner ends with the side walls of the key 5|. The inner portion of each key 5| is provided with tapering side walls 54 which engage matingly tapered faces 55 of a key slot 56 in the corresponding tool supports 22, the slot 56 being sufficiently deep so as to provide for adjustment of the keys toward the axis of the tool support as wear may take place. By this means each tool support may be adjusted laterally to maintain the close slidin engagement desired between it and the inner portion of its way and with the sides 54 of the key 5|. Slight angular adjustment of each of these supports is provided for by the lateral adjustment of the keys .by-means of adjustment of the screws 53. Shims of the necessary thickness, as at 58, may be inserted between the head 52 and the outer-face of the framememher to limit the inward-adjustment of the key 5|, and these may be replaced with thinner shims from time to time as maybe required, as the key 5| is adjusted inwardly. This inward adjustment may be made by means of screws=59 passing through the head 52 and threaded into the-frame member.

The axial motion of each :of these toolsupports is produced by imparting such motion .to a rack bar 50 which may be set into a slot 6| in the tool support, as shown best in Figure 10, This rack bar Ell, as shown, is axially adjustable withrespect to its tool support through a-micrometer adjustment which makes it possible to adjust the-position of the tool 65 carried thereby from andtoward the axis of the work piece with greataccuracy. This adjustment is illustrated best in Figures '7 and 11, The rack bar fillis provided with a T-shaped head 68 at its outer end. One branch 69 of that T head may be provided with adjustable stop screws 10 which may contact with selected stops 1| on a movable stop selector slide T2 to provide adjustable positive stopslimiting the extent of inward cutting of the tool 65 in accordance with the individual spindle which is presenting work in position to be machinedat any particular time. Each of the slides "12 is mounted for substantially vertical movement, its position being controlled by the angular position of an arm 73 (see Figure 1) Securedto a rock-shaft 14. The two alined rock shafts 14, as shown in Figure 3, are connected together by an eccentric cross connection 140 against which .bear individually adjustable screws 14| carried by the spindle carrier, and presented in sequence into operative relation to the member 140, thus determining the angular position of this member, and the presentation of the proper positive stops for each index position of the carrier. Suitable means for indexing the carrier will, of course, be provided but as this per se forms no part of the present invention, it will not be described.

The other arm 15 of the T head has a bore I6 therethrough, having a threaded outer portion within which is engaged an externally threaded headed sleeve 11. This sleeve retains in position, axially with respect to the bar 60, an outwardly extending flange 78 on a sleeve 80 which is journaled through the portion I5. The sleeve 80 is held against axial motion by the flange 18, which rides between an annular shoulder 8| of the bore I6 and the inner end of the sleeve IT. This sleeve is externally threaded at its inner end and engages an internally threaded bore of the tool support 22. The outer end of this sleeve 80 is squared or otherwise formed to be engaged and turned by a wrench 83, by the turning of which the sleeve may be threaded more or less into the tool support 22 thus to adjust the tool support inwardly or outwardly with respect to the rack bar 60. When the adjustment has been effected the parts may be locked in adjusted position. For this purpose, a rod having a head at its outer end contoured to mate the outer end of the sleeve 80, so that the wrench 85 may engage either, has its inner end 93 threaded to the same pitch as the threaded portion, 85 and engages in a threaded socket 94 of smaller diameter coaxial with the bore 85. Secured to the sleeve 80 is an indicator dial member 95 which cooperates with a suitable mark on the adjacent face of the head 68 to indicate the adjusted position of the sleeve 8! The wrench 86 is shown as provided with a spring pressed ball detent 9t backed up by a threaded plug 91, its socket 98 being narrowed at its inner end to prevent the ball 96 from escaping therefrom, but allowing it to project inwardly of the surface of the wrench socket. The outer end of the sleeve 80 and the inner edge of the head 9! are shown as cut away and the outer edge of the head 9| is similarly cut away, so that the ball 96 may act as a latch tending to retain the wrench in either the full or dotted line axial positions shown. In the full line axial position the wrench engages both the head -9I and the outer end of slightly so as to turn the head a! and tighten the" threaded connections between the rod Si and its socket and the sleeve 88 and its socket, the threaded connection between the rod 90 and its socket acting in the way of a lock nut to tighten the sleeve 80 against accidental turning. Release of the parts by a preliminary releasing motion of the wrench while it engages only the head Si is then necessary when further adjustment is to be effected. The wrench may be entirely removed for normal operation of the machine, it being only used when adjustment or locking of the relation between the actuating rack bar 50 and the tool support 22 is desired. The inner end portion of the slot 6! which receives the rack bar 60 is preferably closed off by a filler block I40 having a rearwardly extending lip MI engaging outwardly of an inner lip I 42 on the inner end of the rack bar 60, these sleeves being slidably related one to the other. Similarly the outer ends of the keyway 55 are closed ofi by filler blocks I43 and I 44, all these filler blocks being secured as by screws I45. These filler blocks serve to close 01f the tool slides with respect to their supporting frames and prevent the entry of foreign matter between them.

The axial motion of each of the tool slides to control the presentation and retraction of the tools carried thereby with reference to the work. is independently adjustable for each tool support in accordance with this invention. Each of the frame members 20 and 2| carries an upright pivot shaft H113 and rockable thereon are a series of rockers I Hi, there being one such rocker for each of the tool supports. Each of these rockers, as shown best in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 7, is provided with three angularly spaced arms I02, I03, and tilt. The arm I62 is provided with a rack segment which meshes with the teeth of one of the rack bars iii), and in order that such meshing may be smooth, the teeth of the segment and rack bar are arranged diagonally with respect to their directions of motion as is shown in Figure 5 and by dotted lines at I08 in Figure 6. The arms I33 and I M of each of the rockers IGI have journaled thereon cam follower rollers Hi8 and H39, these rollers being arranged at different elevations, the roller I08 being higher than the roller I09. The roller I09 is the one which is acted upon in order to rock the rocker IIII in a direction to move the tool support toward the work, and this roller is controlled by a detachable cam member Iii) which is arranged to be secured, as by screws III, to the under face of a cam extension H2 secured to a rock shaft H5. These rock shafts H5 are shown as splined to receive the extensions H2, which, as shown best in Figure 4, are provided with hub portions IIB through. which suitable fastening means may be passed to secure these extensions in the desired axial relation to their respective rock shafts.

It will be noted that the front rock shaft H5 is provided with but three extensions H2, while the rear rock shaft H5 is provided with four such extensions, the upper one being employed in connection with the top back tool support, the front top spindle having the stock stop and the cut-oil tool associated therewith, as previously described.

It will be understood that the inward motion of each tool toward its work should be carefully controlled, as this determines the cutting action of the tool, and that, depending upon the particular cut desired, the desirable cam contour for imparting its active motion may differ as between various tools. For this reason the inward motion of the tool is controlled by the detachable cam element IIEI, which can be formed in each case in accordance with the particular tool control desired. and may be removed and another substituted therefor in case of a different tooling operation. The particular control of the return motion of the tool is not so important, however, so that a single relatively permanent cam for all tools may be sufiicient. For this reason the rock shaft extension H2 may have an edge cam surface H8 which bears upon the cam follower roll Hi3 and produces the retracting motion of the corresponding tool support.

Likewise. as the special contoured cams III) are replaceable, it is desirable that as much as possible of the wear between the securing means for this cam and the cam extension, which is relatively permanent. shall be localized in the replaceable cams and securing means. For this reason the threaded connections for the securing screws III are formed in the cams III], while the extensions II? are provided with unthreaded sockets to receive the shanks of the securing screws I! I. The screws I I I and the replaceable cam elements I It thus take the wear and relieve the substantially permanent extensions I I2 from this duty.

Since each of the tool supports is moved toward its work by its own specially contoured cam H0, control of the active motions of the tool supports is independent of each other, even though all are actuated by the rocking of one or the other of the rock shafts iIli. As shown best in Figure 3, the rock shafts H are journaled in suitable top bearings lid and I29 and in lower and intermediate bearings as may be desired, and at their upper splined ends, the are provided with gear segments I25 with which are engaged front and rear rack bars E26 shown in Figure 2. The front rack oar I26 is adjustably secured to a cam slide I27 having a cam follower I28 controlled by cams tilt on a cam drum I38 carried by the upper cam shaft it, while the rear rack bar I26 is adjustably secured to a similar slide I35 having a cam follower I36 controlled by cams I31 on a cam drum wt, also carried by the cam shaft I5.

Tool mountings The tools 65 are carried by the tool slides or supports 22 means which permits adjustment of the tool lengthwise, crosswise, and angularly. To this end the tool 55 is provided with a dovetail projection I5 3 at its base which engages in a mating dovetail slot of a tool carrier I5I, and as shown best in Figure 8, this carrier I5! may have threaded therein an adjusting screw I52 provided with a shoulder it? which may be engaged in any one of a series of cross slots I54 of the tool 35. By turning of the screw 152 the tool may be moved axially. As illustrated in Figure 8, this direction of motion may be inclined to the perpendicular to the tool slide axis. The tool carrier I5! is in turn mounted for motion transverse to the length of the tool, being provided with dovetail portion I66 guided for traverse in a block IEi. This block is provided with one detachable side wall I62, removal of which will permit removal and placement of the tool carrier in position, this portion I62 being then secured in proper bearing relation to the carrier by means of the screws I53. The carrier I5I ma be adjusted laterally by means of the adjusting screw I55 threaded therethrough and journaled at one end in a plate I56 secured to one end of the block lot. The block I6I, as best shown Figure '7, is provided with a cylindrical boss H65 projecting from its rear face and which is journaled in a socket I66 in the inner end of the tool support and coaxial therewith, and this block is adjustable angularly about the axis of the boss E65, by the adjustment of a pair of screws I'I J aneularly arranged in the block MI and engaging against a small cylindrical boss I72 projecting eccentrically from the inner end of the tool support 22.

Tool slide modification In Figure 12 is shown a modification in which instead of employing cylindrical tool carriers, carriers of rectangular cross section have been substituted, such carriers being shown at 220. Each of these is provided with a rack bar 22I corresponding to the rack bar it shown best in Figures '7 and for the cylindrical supports, and each of these is actuated by rockers which may be the rockers Ifil shown in Figure 5. Each of the rack bars 32I may be adjustable with reference to its support, as by the mechanism previously described in connection with Figures '7 and 10, and for the purpose of taking up wear between the rectangular supports 220 and the corresponding ways in the frame members, tapered shims 228 may be employed, these being adjustable lengthwise For this purpose each is provided with 2. lug 23!) (see Figure 12) internally threaded for the reception of an adjusting screw 229 urnaled in the machine frame memher, and having a squared outer end 23I for the reception of a wrench by which it may be turned. A lock nut 232 may be employed to lock the adjusting screw in adjusted position. The tool supports 229 may be secured in their ways, which are open at one side, by cover strips 235 secured to the frame member as by screws 235 and overlapping the supports 220.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.'

We claim:

1. In combination, a guide member, a tool slide movably carried by said guide member, a tool slide connecting member carried by said guide member, and means for adjustably securing said connecting member and slide together, comprising an externally threaded sleeve having threaded connection with said slide and provided against axial motion in said connecting member, and a headed rod extending through said sleeve and having its inner end threaded into said slide with threads of the same pitch as said sleeve, and means for selectively turning said sleeve and rod simultaneously to adjust said tool slide relative to said connecting member, or to turn said rod only to lock or release said threaded sleeve with respect to said slide.

2. In a multiple spindle lathe, an indexing carrier, a plurality of rotary work spindles journaled in said carrier in circular array about the indexing axis, and arranged to receive stock projecting from one face of said carrier, a frame member extending transverse to said indexing axis adjacent to the projecting portions of said stock and provided with tubular ways extending theretoward, cylindrical slides movable axially in said ways and having carriers for tools at their ends adjacent to said projecting portions, wedge means for taking up wear between said slides and ways, and means for moving said slides.

3. In a multiple spindle lathe, an indexing carrier, a plurality of rotary work spindles journaled in said carrier in circular array about the indexing axis and arranged to receive stock projecting from one face of said carrier, a frame member extending transverse to said indexing axis adjacent to the projecting portions of said stock and provided with tubular ways extending theretoward, cylindrical slides movabie axially in said ways and having carriers for tools at their ends adjacentto said projecting portions, wedges and cooperating slots in said ways and slides preventing rotation of said slides and adjustable to take up wear between said slides and ways, and means for moving said slides.

4. In combination, a frame having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical slide axially movable within said bore, said frame having a slot lengthwise of and intersecting said bore, said slide having a tapered slot opposite to the slot of said frame, a key of less width than said frame slot seated in said frame slot and provided with a tapered portion fitting the tapered slot of said slide, means for adjusting said key laterally of said frame slot to thereby adjust the angular position of said slide, and means for securing said key to said frame.

5. In combination, a frame member having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical slide mounted for axial motion in said bore, said slide having a longitudinal slot provided with inwardly converging side faces, said frame member having a slot registering with said slide slot, a key mounted in said frame slot said key being narrower than said frame slot and having an inner portion of tapering thickness engaging in said slide slot, means for adjusting said key transversely of said frame slot, and means for adjusting said key toward and from the axis of said slide.

6. A multiple spindle lathe comprising an indexing work spindle carrier, a plurality of work spindles mounted in said carrier in circular array about the indexing axis thereof, a frame member extending transverse to the indexing axis of said carrier at one side of Work pieces projecting from one end of each of certain of said work spindles, a plurality of tool supports carried by said frame member and movable toward and from such work pieces, a single cam shaft mounted in said frame, the axis of said cam shaft being at right angles to said indexing axis, certain of said tool supports being mounted to slide transverse to the cam shaft axis and others of said tool supports being disposed at an acute angle to the cam shaft axis, cams on said cam shaft individual to the respective tool supports, rockers pivotally mounted in the frame member having a portion thereof engageable and operable with the cam shaft, and a gear sector on each rocker, all of said gear sectors being arranged transversely to the cam shaft, each of said tool supports having rack teeth engageable with the respective gear sectors for actuation thereby.

CARROLL E. MILLER. JOHN M. INGALLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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